Advance voting blocked in many areas in South

[webfact]

Advance voting blocked in many areas in South
The Nation


Many female protesters showed up to block advance voting at a polling station in Krabi Yai subdistrict in Krabi

Mainly peaceful protests against poll in Northeast

BANGKOK: -- Advance voting for the February 2 poll in 20 northeastern, 15 northern and 25 central and eastern provinces proceeded uneventfully yesterday but was blocked by protesters in many southern provinces and Bangkok.

Puchong Nutrawong, secretary-general of the Election Commission, said that in the northeastern province of Surin, voters could still cast their ballots even though anti-government protesters had surrounded polling booths.

In Samut Songkram, voting was cancelled before 8am because protesters had laid siege to the polling stations. Of the 15 southern provinces, Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani could open and some ballots were collected, while the 11 other provinces were closed after the venues were surrounded by protesters.

In Chumphon, election officials could not open voting venues because protesters blocked the entrance with rallies. In other southern provinces, voters could cast their ballots only in some constituencies. Some provinces had no venues because election officials had quit.

There were hardly any anti-government protests in northern provinces, except in Phichit, but voters there could still cast ballots.

The turnout in Chiang Mai, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's home province, was

meagre, while all northeastern provinces were spared any hassles, even Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani, the latter a stronghold of pro-government red shirts.

In Khon Kaen, supporters of the People's Democratic Reform Committee gathered in a show of force at some places but did not disrupt voting.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, 800 PDRC protesters almost clashed with 200 red shirts as they marched to try to block the voting venues in Constituency 1, one kilometre away from the Thao Suranaree Monument. More than 100 riot control police were able to prevent brawls between the two groups. The PDRC protesters could walk and pass through the red shirts within 15 minutes.

In the central province of Ang Thong, 200 PDRC protesters and farmers rallied in front of the voting station to oppose the poll but citizens were still able to cast their ballots. The scene was similar in Rayong.

In Krabi, 10 women in sarongs lined up in front of the PDRC protesters to prevent access to the polling station in Constituency 1, which was 500 metres away. Hundreds of police were deployed to keep the peace.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan's Constituency 1, only one person, a police officer, managed to cast his ballot, so the district chief closed the polling station.


-- The Nation 2014-01-27

[rwhoov]

If you can't win an election, then prevent others from voting. Democracy in action.... NOT.

[gemini81]

If you can't win an election, then prevent others from voting. Democracy in action.... NOT.

You can buy it, highest bidder named Thaksin. Democracy? Not! Why does this need reiterated time & again? Why do you think they are there blocking it? Read the article my friend: even in her HOME TOWN the turnout is MEAGER!

You should do one of those intro to Thai culture courses available, since you're a virgin to the culture and forum, and possible reading articles beyond their titles.

Edited January 27, 2014 by gemini81

[Emptyset]

แก้วมาลา Kaewmala ‏@Thai_Talk

Kamnans, headmen & religious leaders in Yala joined force to stop mobs obstructing elections yesterday.

[indyuk]

I'm astonished at the ignorance of the Thai electorate in believing that replacing the elected government with a self appointed committee of criminals can be better than returning a democratically government.

Edited January 27, 2014 by indyuk

[JAG]

I'm astonished at the ignorance of the Thai electorate in believing that replacing the elected government with a self appointed committee of criminals can be better than returning a democratically government.

I don't think the Thai electorate do believe that.

The polls are being blocked to stop them from showing that.

Those that do want an appointed government are in such a minority that they know they cannot win an election, therefore they must prevent one.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ultimate weapon]

If you can't win an election, then prevent others from voting. Democracy in action.... NOT.

According to the yellow shirt supporters in here that's perfectly fine. Cos you know they will somehow vote in some thaksin puppet govt which is bad which then bellies the question. If people want to vote in some type of pro thaksin govt what's the problem? Do the rules change all because the majority want a govt that they like? These are the same exact people who would change their stance 180 degrees if the redshirts were the ones preventing ppl from voting because the yellow side was popular. Talk about double standards. Then we have the conspiracy theorists that say thaksin bribed the voters. Yeah he sure did he bribed the majority of a 60 million + country of people to vote for him or a party that supports him.

Honestly speaking i hate people that change the rules or bend them or change the size of the goal posts when the situation is not in their favor. Just admit it the side you support is equally or more corrupt. Blocking the voting process indeed. This proves without a doubt the yellow side knows that they will lose the election. Why would you prevent people from voting instead of banking on the results from the votes? This by itself proves without a shadow of a doubt that the yellows know they will lose. It is just like a 3rd party in the USA outside of the democrats and republicans that is now running in the race. Let's assume the party is called the faggots and lesbians, transgender party. Which party do you think would have the least number of votes and would somehow need to disrupt the voting process?

This is so straightforward and in your face but some of you just refuse to admit it.

[heybruce]

If you can't win an election, then prevent others from voting. Democracy in action.... NOT.

You can buy it, highest bidder named Thaksin. Democracy? Not! Why does this need reiterated time & again? Why do you think they are there blocking it? Read the article my friend: even in her HOME TOWN the turnout is MEAGER!

You should do one of those intro to Thai culture courses available, since you're a virgin to the culture and forum, and possible reading articles beyond their titles.

Not even Abhisit claims the last election was bought, and no international news organization reported on it. Only certain TV members make the claim. But of course they know everything.

[englishoak]

If you can't win an election, then prevent others from voting. Democracy in action.... NOT.

You can buy it, highest bidder named Thaksin. Democracy? Not! Why does this need reiterated time & again? Why do you think they are there blocking it? Read the article my friend: even in her HOME TOWN the turnout is MEAGER!

You should do one of those intro to Thai culture courses available, since you're a virgin to the culture and forum, and possible reading articles beyond their titles.

Not even Abhisit claims the last election was bought, and no international news organization reported on it. Only certain TV members make the claim. But of course they know everything.

A lot of them have very informed wives that have very credible sources in the local markets and Thai soap opera TV. Its rather sad that most do not get out and about enough or get to know the diversity of both regions and class. They just tow the party line, mostly of the same rhetoric as their spouse for home harmonies sake i expect. Long term tourists if you will but not really informed.

It is however very nice to see a healthy non biased and aware group still here who can think and deduct for themselves between market gossip ( of which theres an avalanche )and hard cold facts ( of which in Thailand are few )

[citizen33]

Sadly a surprising number of posters openly support the unlawful blocking of an election in a land in which they are guests. People wonder where totalitarian movements drew their support from in Europe in the 1930s; many here would have been right at home.